Carla Ward: 'If you're going to get to a World Cup, you've got to beat the best'

Should Ireland overcome that semi-final challenge, Belgium or Poland await as the Girls in Green look to book their ticket to Brazil in 2027 and qualify for a second World Cup in a row.

Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward speaks to her team after the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier against France. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward believes every country involved in the World Cup play-off would have wanted to avoid meeting Poland or Belgium. 

Ward's Ireland face the arduous journey to take on Kazakhstan - ranked 100th in the world - in October before welcoming their counterparts to these shores in the second-leg thereafter, likely at Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh or the Aviva Stadium.